I am new to quadcopters. on disability and looking for a hobby.

I was gifted a flamewheel 450 frame only. I am new to quadcopters. Recommendations on parts, assembly and how to fly would be appreciated?

You'll get lots of different recommendations, here's a link to a tutorial that gives you parts options and the build process. Good luck!
https://pixhawk.org/platforms/multicopters/dji_flamewheel_450

Thank you

esoterik1967 said:

I was gifted a flamewheel 450 frame only. I am new to quadcopters. Recommendations on parts, assembly and how to fly would be appreciated?

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Hello and welcome on board. I'm currently working my way thru an earlier version(APM2.8) of the Ardupilot series of Flight Controllers. I have the "big" brother of your Flame Wheel..........the S500.

First and foremost, I would recommend hitting youtube and checking out videos on the different type quads and deciding what you want to do. Do a search on "flamewheel 450 diy frame kit" and you'll get a ton of videos.

The programming software for the Pixhawk(Mission Planner) is fairly comprehensive and is geared towards AP/AS Platforms(Aerial Photography/Aerial Survey). You can do anything from flying with your transmitter with some pre-selected functions(hover, Return To Launch, etc) up to and including full on autonomous missions.

One of the things I have found invaluable is a site called "eCalc". https://www.ecalc.ch/ It lets you input different parts and returns a baseline so you know what will work and what won't. A one year subscription is just under $6.

As for the how to fly............I would suggest(because it worked for me) getting a cheap toy grade quad(you can get mini quads for right at $20) that you can fly inside/outside. I'm sure there are exceptions, but everybody I know(including myself) spends the beginning of their quad experience crashing.............a lot! My first quad is in the "archived quad drawer" in about 5 pieces. My "knock around/practice" bird is a BoldClash BWHoop B-03 with Altitude Hold. It's something I can fly inside and outside with out damaging to much and if I have a catastrophic crash, I can get another one for just under $20.

Oh, here's "Frankendrone", my S500.

Thank you. A little Information overload but useful.

esoterik1967 said:

A little Information overload

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You are about to embark on a hobby that abounds with info overload.................(grin)................

"One of the things I have found invaluable is a site called "eCalc". https://www.ecalc.ch/ It lets you input different parts and returns a baseline so you know what will work and what won't. A one year subscription is just under $6."

Hey Dragger, that looks like a very useful web site. Never saw anything like it before for any discipline. Cool!
Pretty heady stuff for a newbie, but you gotta bookmark that for sure. ESOTERIC.

I stumbled on parameter number 4 ??? "Include Drive, without Battery etc." The rest of it made sense.

So off the top of your head, how many simoleans you think is in the " FrankenDrone".

I get tempted to build everytime I see it

Have fun.
Bill

Hell Bill...........I'm doing some rebuild/improvements and have just topped 600 of those lovely George's................

I haven't done much lately other then just fly it and not gotten any vid/pics while doing it. Cheap 2-axis gimbal got trashed on a wind induced crash(plus I lost my mind for a few moments). So, I've been flying it pretty steady and just worrying about flying it, no vids, no pics, just flying and figuring out what I needed to improve/change. Motors.............found a good deal on 4 T-motors, but they are 950kv so I'm backing down to the 1045 CF props. I'm changing to a "shielded" mount for my GPS/compass and upgraded that from M7n to M8n for tighter location lock. New landing gear.........that "T" gear sucks.....no protection for anything underneath. Also, has new rails with extra mounting parts, not Slip and Slide hangars(that's what did in my gimbal). Also won't let my battery holder slide back and forth(which sucks when trying for smooth and steady). Raising the mounting bed for my FC with 35mm standoffs so I can have my telemetry and FPV centered and not hanging on the side. The last of the parts came Friday and I got a good 3 hours working on it this morning. Oh, speaking of FPV, I added a capacitor to get rid of some interference. All in all, almost a whole new bird............with the same brain.

Oh, and yes, Bill, I'm still having a ball!!!! I'll try and remember to get some pics tomorrow and get them posted.

dragger201 said:

Hell Bill...........I'm doing some rebuild/improvements and have just topped 600 of those lovely George's................

I haven't done much lately other then just fly it and not gotten any vid/pics while doing it. Cheap 2-axis gimbal got trashed on a wind induced crash(plus I lost my mind for a few moments). So, I've been flying it pretty steady and just worrying about flying it, no vids, no pics, just flying and figuring out what I needed to improve/change. Motors.............found a good deal on 4 T-motors, but they are 950kv so I'm backing down to the 1045 CF props. I'm changing to a "shielded" mount for my GPS/compass and upgraded that from M7n to M8n for tighter location lock. New landing gear.........that "T" gear sucks.....no protection for anything underneath. Also, has new rails with extra mounting parts, not Slip and Slide hangars(that's what did in my gimbal). Also won't let my battery holder slide back and forth(which sucks when trying for smooth and steady). Raising the mounting bed for my FC with 35mm standoffs so I can have my telemetry and FPV centered and not hanging on the side. The last of the parts came Friday and I got a good 3 hours working on it this morning. Oh, speaking of FPV, I added a capacitor to get rid of some interference. All in all, almost a whole new bird............with the same brain.

Oh, and yes, Bill, I'm still having a ball!!!! I'll try and remember to get some pics tomorrow and get them posted.

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Dragger,

Thanks for driving the economy!

WOW! you are really getting into the technology deep. Constant improvements, Nice.

I am sidelined from Quads temporarily by putting up a new antenna for Ham Radio. I managed to get a wire dipole up between 2 65 foot pine trees. And what a difference. Also, ran cable for power to the Shed where my RAdio Room is. No more extension cords YehaWW.

Will be back to yanking and banking soon.

Enjoy!
Bill

ArmyVet said:

I managed to get a wire dipole up between 2 65 foot pine trees

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Uh, Bill.........uh, did you, uh, think of maybe, I don't know, uh, hooking up your transmitter to that thing????

ArmyVet said:

I stumbled on parameter number 4 ??? "Include Drive, without Battery etc." The rest of it made sense.

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Oh, Bill...........I do the "include drive" which is a combined weight total(I think). When I try the other two choices I get "warnings" that I ain't quite figured out yet as they don't jibe with what I know I got............

dragger201 said:

Uh, Bill.........uh, did you, uh, think of maybe, I don't know, uh, hooking up your transmitter to that thing????

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Hmm interesting idea.......an RC TRANSMITTER REPEATER. Wheels turning, albeit slowly haha.

esoterik1967 said:

I am now trying to figure out what type of ESC, Motors and props. I would also like to do FPV.

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Hey esoterik....................without knowing what kinda flying your looking to do, that's a hard question. Also, what kinda budget you have. And what level of complexity you wish to attempt................

esoterik1967 said:

simplicity is key for my first drone build.

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Ok, for ESCs and Motors, here is what came with my S500 kit and they worked very well with 1047 props.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4x-Hobbypow...550221&hash=item3d184207b1:g:SlwAAOSwIQdZJEgw

You can do an ESC calibration all at the same time. Basically a Plug and Play set up.

Let's see........props............. if you go with these motors(or similar "DJI" style 2212 motors) you have to be careful on buying props because of the 8mm shaft diameter with lugs. These worked very well and to start with I would definitely recommend plastic rather then Carbon Fiber. And some extras................

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16pcs-8pair...297858?hash=item2ef3c56e02:g:ryMAAOSwGtRXyAE0

For a battery, these work very well and I get about 20 minutes with out a gimbal. with a gimbal/camera, about 16 minutes. I've gotten two of these.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hubsan-H109...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

I dont know if anyone is still out there that may see this but I wanted to tell you what I purchased so far.

1. (New)Flamewheel f450 frame (arms and upper/lower deck) ($10 on ebay)
2. (New) Naza M-lite controller w/GPS ( $73 on ebay)
3. 2312 Motors OPTO ESC 9450 Propellers ($48 on ebay)
4. (New) DJI DT7 Controller DR16 D Bus Transmitter & Receiver 2.4Ghz ($128 on ebay)
5. GoolRC Highten Landing Gear Kit w/Anti-vibration Cushion for F450 F550 Multicopter FPV ($18 on Amazon)
6. PULSE 2700mAh 3S 11.1V 25C - M450 Flamewheel 450 - LiPo Battery ($30 on Amazon)

What else do I need? I am at a total loss on an FPV camera. I cant afford or justify a GoPro.

esoterik1967 said:

I am at a total loss on an FPV camera.

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Hello again..................your list looks alright and just a question of you putting it together and making it work. As for FPV.......this is what I got......http://www.ebay.com/itm/TS5828S-40C...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

But I also added one of these and it eliminated a lot of static interference from other electronics on the quad......................and it worked really well...............http://www.ebay.com/itm/6x-NICHICON...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

dragger201 said:

Hello again..................your list looks alright and just a question of you putting it together and making it work. As for FPV.......this is what I got......http://www.ebay.com/itm/TS5828S-40CH-5-8G-600MW-RP-SMA-Female-FPV-Transmitter-HD-700TVL-Mini-FPV-Camera/282009389663?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

But I also added one of these and it eliminated a lot of static interference from other electronics on the quad......................and it worked really well...............http://www.ebay.com/itm/6x-NICHICON-105-C-Electrolytic-Capacitor-1000uF-25V-3-8-X-13-16-10X20mm/152137526373?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

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Thank you! where would I put the capacitor? thx again.

esoterik1967 said:

where would I put the capacitor?

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You would solder it to the terminal where you solder your battery connection. Do you have the model with the bottom plate also being the PDB???(Power Distribution Board)

dragger201 said:

You would solder it to the terminal where you solder your battery connection. Do you have the model with the bottom plate also being the PDB???(Power Distribution Board)

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Yes